A Belated New Year's present for everyone…
Chapter 54: Edward's Party
EPOV
I woke up to the shrill of my alarm clock. I barely had a time to turn it off before the angel on my side began to groan. I could tell instantly that she had too much to drink during her party.
"Do you need aspirin?" I whispered careful to keep my voice low. I knew, from experience, just what a hangover was. It was no fun.
"Please," She pleaded covering her head with the pillow.
After getting her to drink aspirin, I knew I had to get going. I wanted to check out the progress of the hotels before coming back to get ready for my party. I still had no idea what my party would entail, but I did know it was all Emmett's doing. Therefore, I was scared.
"Love, I'm going to head into work for a few hours." I stated softly. "Abby should be in bed for a few more hours."
"Don't go." She mumbled pulling me down to her.
"I have to, sweetheart." I sighed hating the fact that I had such a fast pace job, that demanded so much attention. I will definitely be slowing down after this project was completed.
"I know." She responded as I kissed her tenderly. "I'll be back soon."
I made sure Abby was asleep before heading out to the office. I got there relatively quickly, since it was very early on a Saturday, most people were very wisely still sleeping.
"What are you doing in today, Edward?" My father asked as I walked in. He was carrying some folders out of the conference room and into his office.
"I wanted to look over the construction before tonight." I answered. "How about you?"
"Same, here." He responded with a laugh. "You go ahead and get back to Bella."
"I'm already here, dad. Maybe we can get it done faster together." I replied as he nodded leading the way out the back door and into the construction site.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked my father as we looked around surveying the workers.
"What's on your mind, son?" He inquired as I laughed. My father knew that something was definitely bothering me.
"Well, you know Bella and I want to start a family as soon as we're married." I prefaced as he nodded. Bella and I had mentioned our plans to my parents a few times.
"I think that's best for Abby. She'll have someone closer to her age to play with." He pointed out.
"Well, the thing is that I've always taken the far away projects." I continued and I knew he knew where I was heading. "But I really want to settle down. We have a house here, and I really want to build a bigger place for my family. I don't want to travel too much. I don't want to leave my girls alone."
"That's understandable." My father answered as we moved to quieter area. "I was actually going to wait until you got back from your honeymoon to tell you this, but since you brought it up. Your brother is heading back to New York once this project is over, and I spoke to your mother and I want to take over the larger overseas projects."
"What about me?" I inquired.
"Well, we always talked about opening an office in the west coast. Why not Vegas? It'll also put you in position to look over our funds here, and help Bella out with the restaurant." He added as I smiled. I had been really worried about what was going to happen once the hotels opened in July.
"I think that sounds promising." I commented as my father patted my back.
"You worry a lot, son." He mused as we headed to finish looking over everything.
"Do you know what Emmett has planned for tonight?" I asked as we headed back to our cars.
"I don't know the specifics, but I do know it was approved by Alice. It's obviously not something Bella will object to." He assured me as I laughed jumping into the car and heading back home.
BPOV
I stood in the kitchen in my Winnie the Pooh sleep pants and tank top making popcorn as Edward finished getting ready. He was going to his bachelor party while I was staying in with Abby for a Disney Princess movie marathon.
"I love Pooh!" Edward teased playfully slapping my bottom.
"Don't make fun of the bear." I warned grabbing a wooden spoon.
"I'm not," Edward answered defensively kissing my nose. "I'll just miss you."
"I will too," I admitted kissing his lips. "But you deserve your last night as a single man."
"I don't want it." He complained as I laughed. Most men only wanted to get married in order to get a bachelor party, but my Edward was different. He was different in a good way.
"Have fun, Edward, but hurry back. I'll be waiting." I added making the last part sound sultry and sexy.
"I think I'm canceling." Edward groaned as he tried to pull me into him and I playfully hit him with the spoon.
"You will do no such thing." I scolded moving away from him.
"Mommy, is daddy in trouble?" Abby asked as she stood at the door in her High School Musical pajama set.
"He will be, if he doesn't get going soon." I replied. "Uncle Emmett is going to kill him, because he's already late."
"I'm going." Edward sighed kissing me and Abby. "Be good!"
"Always, Daddy." Abby stated with a grin.
"Hurry back." I said to Edward with a wink before he left.
"Time for movies!" I said to Abby as she hurried into the living room.
EPOV
Leaving Bella and Abby was extremely difficult. I had done my fair share of partying, and it no longer held the appeal it once did. I found it quite unimportant, and not particularly interesting. It wasn't my scene anymore. I had done it all during the years following my break up with Jessica, and I was happy with Bella. I didn't need any of it.
I drove over to Emmett's place finding that Jasper, Jacob, and my father were already there. The guest list was limited strictly, because I didn't want to make a scene. I just wanted a quiet night.
"The bachelor is here!" Emmett yelled from the front steps of his house as I parked directly behind his Jeep. The Hummer limo was already waiting for us.
"You're late!" Jacob pointed out as I rolled my eyes.
"I can't be late to my own party." I reminded him.
"He's right, you know." Jasper added patting my back. "Plus the party doesn't start until after midnight anyway."
"Time's a wasting." Emmett announced as I rolled my eyes. Let the circus begin.
"I'll keep things in line." My father assured me as I sighed. I knew he understood that I didn't want anything too over the top.
"Where are we headed?" I asked once we had all settled into the limo.
"You'll see, Eddie." Emmett teased as I sighed.
The music blared from the speakers as we drove into the Las Vegas Strip and straight into Caesar's Palace. I knew exactly where we were headed, and I was relieved that it wasn't a Strip Club.
"You look relieved." Jasper commented as we got out of the car and were escorted inside.
"I'm just thankful it's not a Strip Club." I answered as he laughed.
"Alice made sure it wasn't. I think Emmett really wanted one. So this was the compromise." He explained as we headed into the Buffet, a personal favorite of Emmett's.
"We have a room upstairs if you want a last escapade." Emmett added nudging me as I glared at him. We had already gathered our first round of food and were sitting down eating.
"Do you think, you'll have use for it?" I asked sarcastically.
"You're the bachelor." He pointed out with a loud laugh. "I'm a married man."
"I'll be one in a few days, and I will never ever even consider using the room with anybody but Bella." I stated firmly getting up and heading back to the buffet. I knew that if I stayed I was going to cause a scene. It was not funny, and it really bothered me. I was not the same man I once was.
"Edward, you know I was playing around." Emmett said as he approached me. "I swear there's no room."
"It's not funny, Emmett." I said with a glare.
"I'm sorry." He apologized as I nodded heading back to the table. We had the rest of dinner without any major fiasco before we were escorted into PURE nightclub.
"I love this place!" Jacob yelled through the music as I laughed.
"Let's get drinks." Jasper added as we made our way towards the PussyCat Doll Lounge where the girls were dancing.
I had a few drinks as I took in the environment. I was approached by a few girls, but they backed away once they found out I was engaged. I enjoyed the music, and even found myself enjoying the view as the girls danced on stage. I wasn't blind, and realized that they were attractive. Yet, in my mind none compared to Bella.
"We have a special dance coming up!" One of the girls announced as they appeared on the stage.
"We have a bachelor in the house, that will be leaving behind his days of singlehood in less than a week." Another continued as I eyed my friends.
"Have some fun." Jasper urged as I sighed.
"Where's Edward Cullen?" The third girl asked batting her eyelashes as my friends started pointing at me.
"Don't be shy, Eddie." The first girl with black hair said walking towards me and leading me towards the stage.
"We don't bite." The other with red hair added with a wink.
"That is, unless you want us to," The last one with blonde hair finished as the applause grew.
I was seated on a chair at the middle of the stage before the music began to fill the air. The girls danced around me gyrating their hips, and I had to stop myself from groaning at the sight before me. All three of the girls were very good looking. They were tall and I couldn't help myself, I had to stare.
The song came to an end, and I immediately felt the guilt rush over me. I had gotten excited over three women that weren't Bella. I felt dirty, like a high schooler who had just gotten caught with a stash of Playboy magazines.
I thanked the girls walking down off the stage and gulping down a shot that was on the table.
"I'm heading home." I told everyone as they looked at me with concern.
"Are you alright?" My father asked as I nodded
"I need to get home to Bella. Thanks for the party." I finished heading out of the club and towards the taxis.
"Hey, you're not taking a cab home." Jasper stopped me. "Emmett is paying the tab. It's late we should all head home."
I stayed quiet the entire ride. I was thankful, that everyone had left me alone. I really didn't feel like talking about it. I knew it didn't seem like a big deal, but it was to me. Before I had met Bella, I was the big party man. And would've probably had managed to get all three of those women up to my room. I was an arrogant prick.
"Thanks for the party." I said forcing a smile when we reached the house. "I had fun."
I had really enjoyed myself, but I needed to see Bella. I needed to assure myself, that I was still the family man. I hadn't succumbed to my old womanizing ways. I needed to be with my Bella. She was the only woman I would ever need.
A/N: I decided to be extra nice, and give you all an extra chapter a day early. This chapter does not count as a normal update and I will have my normal updates tomorrow (Monday), Wednesday, and Friday.
No Strip Club for Edward's Bachelor Party, but he did get a lap dance from three girls. Should he feel guilty? Or should he be proud that he resisted the urge to take action?
I hope you all had a wonderful break and enjoyed the holidays. I have been rather productive over these past two days, and have finished Between Love and Duty, started the sequel for What Happens and Vegas, and have started a completely new story. My new story will not be posted until I finish posting Between Love and Duty (50 chapters total).
Next Chapter: Bella's Surprise
Happy 2009!
Muggleinlove
